Subsurface well bore valve apparatus



March 28, 1961 R. c. BAKER 2,976,932

SUBSURFACE WELL BORE VALVE APPARATUS Filed April 23, 1957 inve/Vzw.

SUBSURFACE WELL BORE VALVE APPARATUS Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 654,584

12 Claims. (Cl. 166-226) The present invention relates to valves, and more particularly to valve apparatus adapted for use in `a well bore to control fluid tlow between the interior and exterior of a tubular string disposed in the well bore.

Retrievable well packers and similar equipment are lowered in well bores on tubular strings to perform dilerent operations therewithin. Under some conditions, release of such equipment from its set condition in a well bore might be difficult because of the existence of a sub-k stantial pressure differential in the well bore aroundthe tubular string. As an example, if the equipment isa set down type of well packer, the pressure diierential in the tubular vstring-casing annulus above the-packer would tend to hold the packer'in its set condition, and, unless the pressure diierential is overcome, the packer cannot be released. y

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved valve apparatus for u se in conjunction with a valve device to be set in `a well casing or well bore, which will normally remain in a'closed condition, but which is readily opened to enable the pressure to be equalized internally and externally of the tubular string, to which the valve apparatus is secured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve apparatus for use in a well bore in connection with a valve device to be set therewithin, the valve apparatus being positively locked in a closed condition, and being opened only in response to a predetermined upward force being exerted on the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve apparatus for use in a well bore in conjunction with another well device, the valve apparatus being capable of transmitting torque to the well device to'contro-l its operation. l

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsV accom* It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of v illustrating the general principles' of the invention; but

atentj standing of the present invention.

a tubular body 10, which is anchored against downward Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal section through the shear ring portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l. n

As disclosed in the drawings, a valve apparatus A` is provided between `a tubular string B, such as a string of tubing or drill pipe, extending to the top of the hole, and another well tool or well device C which may, by way of example, be a set down type of packer adapted to be anchored in packed-ofi condition against a well casing D. The details of such packer are unnecessary to an under- Usually, it includes movement in a well casing by a slip mechanism (not shown). The slips are initially locked in a retracted position, being released by manipulation of the' tubing string lto enable downward movement of the tubing string Vand the packer body 10 to anchor the slips against the well casing D and foreshorten a packing Structure 11,

surrounding the body, to expand it outwardly against the wall of the well casing.

. As illustrated, the upper end of the packing structure 11, which may be a rubber or rubber-like sleeve, abuts an upper head 12 of the packer body threadedly secured a `to the main portion) of the packer body. In the present `form of the invention, this upper headv 12 constitutes Y part ofthe valve apparatus A.

` tending through its wall through whichfluid can pass in.

The valveapparatus includes a tubular mandrel 13 i having an upper threaded box 14 `for threaded attachment Vto the lowerend of the tubular string B extending tothe top of the well bore.

head 12 and a sleeve 15threadedly secured thereto, this sleeve 15 and headplZ, in effect, constituting a valve housing 16.` "Thesleeve portion of the housingA has va plurality of circumferentially spaced side ports 17a vexmoving between the interior of the mandrel 13 and the exterior of the housing 16 when vthe valve apparatus is in open condition. Normally, the valve is in closed condition for preventing such ilow of iluid by a down- -ward location of the mandrel 13 within the housing 16,

to dispose the lower reduced diameter portion or head 17 it is to be understoondthat such detailed description'is 'l not to be taken ina limiting sense, sincefthe scope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectionthrough a valveap-v paratusjernbodying the invention in closed position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, disclosing the valve in an open condition;

Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line 3-3 on "1;

of the' mandrel within a companion Valve seat 1S Vformed in kthe upper portion of the packer body Vhead'lZ. To prevent leakage between the mandrel 13 and the cylindrical valve seat 18, a suitable side seal 19, such as a lrubber or rubber-like 0 ring, is contained within an the vvalve head-17 will befully disposedacross the valve seal ring 19,.preventing passage of iluid -betweenthe f interior of the mandrel 13 and the side ports'17a. VWhen the mandrll' is-move'd upwardly within the housing i6-to a positionllimitedaby engagement ofv an upwardlyl facing shoulder 23 con the-mandrell with an inwardly` directed shoulder 24 at the upper portion of. the sleeve 15, the lower body shoulder 21 is disposed above the ports-17a, at which'time the valve head 17 is also located well aboveyits comp-anion valveseat 1S.l 'With the parts -`vin this relativefposition, duid can passffreely'from' the This mandrel 13 is .tele-rV scopically arranged-within and with respect to `the upper 3 l interior of the mandrel 13, around its lower end, and out through the side ports 17a to the exterior of the valve apparatus, as well as being permitted to oW in a reverse direction.

Normally, it is desired to retain the valve apparatus A in its closed condition, such as disclosed in Fig. 1, with the valve head 17 in closed position within its cylindrical seat 18. The parts are releasably retained in this condition by shear means connecting the mandrel 13 to the valve housing 16. As speciiically disclosed, the shear means include a split shear ring 25, which may be made of a suitable material such as brass, the outer portion 26 of the shear ring engaging a downwardly directed stop shoulder 27 formed on the housing sleeve 15, the inner portion 28 of the shear ring being substantially reduced in thickness and disposed within a peripheral groove 29 in the mandrel 13. It is evident that so long as the inner portion 28 of the shear ring remains integral with its outer portion 26, the mandrel 13 will be held and secured in its downward position within the housing 16, with the valve head 17 disposed fully within its companion seat 18, thereby retaining the valve in a closed condition. However, when a predetermined upward force is taken on the mandrel 13, sufficient to shear the inner portion 28 of the shear ring from its outer portion 26, the mandrel 13 is released from the housing 16 and can then move upwardly to the extent limited by engagement of its upper shoulder 23 with the housing flange 24, at which time the side ports 17a are fully open.

The valve apparatus A is also capable of transmitting torque between the mandrel 13 and the housing 16, to effect operation of the well packer C therebelow. As specifically disclosed, the mandrel is rotationally coupled to the housing, but is capable of sliding telescopically therewithin by virtue of a floating longitudinal key 30,

disposed partly within a keyway or external groove 31 in the mandrel 13 and also wiithin an opposed keyway or internal groove 32 in the housing sleeve 15. To facilitate the cutting of the internal keyway 32 in the housing, and also to prevent foreign substances from packing between the mandrel shoulder 23 and the flange 24, a hole or port 33 may be provided in the housing immediately below the flange, so that any such foreign substance can be forced upwardly from the space 34 between the mandrel and the housing outwardly through this bleeder port 33.

In the use ofthe valve apparatus A in conjunction with the set down type of packer C disclosed, it is secured to the lower end of a tubular string B, such as tubing or drill pipe, andlowered in the well casing D to the location at which the packer is to be anchored inrpackedo condition against the wall of the well casing. During the lowering movement of the equipment in the well casing, the valve A is secured in its closed position by the shear ring 25, with the valve head 17 disposed fully within its companion seat 18, the inner portion 2S of the ring being disposed in the peripheral groove 29` and the outer portion 26 engaging the downwardly facing stop shoulder 27 of the housing 16. The shear ring 25 thereby prevents the mandrel 13 from moving upwardly with respect to the housing 16.

When the location in the well casing D is reached at which the packer C is to be set, the tubular string B and mandrel 13 are turned in the proper direction, the turning eiort being transmitted through the key 30 to the housing 16. This action will release the casing slips (in i a known manner), whereupon a downwardly directed weight or force is imposed on the tubular string B and mandrel 13, this weight or force being transmitted from the mandrel shoulder 21 directly to the packer body 12, 10 to expand the slips (not shown) against the well casing and to then foreshorten the packing structure 11 and expand it outwardly against the well casing. The downward force so imposed can be quite substantial and can have no effect on inadvertently disrupting the, shear element 25, inasmuch as it is not being transmitted through the latter, but passes directly from the mandrel shoulder 21 to the body of the packer.

The well packer C can now be used to perform any desired function. As an example, the tubular string B may be swabbed, which will impose a pressure diierential in the annulus 40 around the tubing string, this pressure dif- Iferential being imposed downwardly on the packing structure 11 and tending to hold it, as well as other parts of the well packer, firmly against the well casing. With the pressure ditlerential'in the annulus imposed on the apparatus and the Well packer therebelow, it may be desired to release the well packer. Normally, such release will occur merely as a result of taking an upward strain on the tubular string B and mandrel 13, such upv/ard force being transmitted through the shear ring 25 to the housing 16 and body '10. It the pressure diierential in the tubing-casing annulus 40 above the well packer C is not too great, such upward force may be suicient to eiiect a release of the packer and a retraction of the slips and packing structure 11 from the wall of the weil casing D, whereupon the equipment in the well bore can be elevated within the well casing by means of the tubular string B. If, however, such movement of the packer to a released condition cannot take place, then the taking of a sufficient upward strain on the tubing string B and mandrel 13 will shear the inner portion 2S of the shear ring 25 from. its outer portion 26, allowing the mandrel 13 to move upwardly within the housing 16 to a position in which the shoulder 23 engages the housing tlange 2d, such as disclosed in Fig. 2, wherein the ports 17u are open, allowing the fluid in the annulus 40 to ilow inwardly through the ports 17a and around the lower end 17 of the mandrel 13 to its interior, until the pressure within the tubular string B and the pressure externally thereof are equalized, or, at least, the pressure differential in the annulus 40 has been considerably reduced. At this time, an upward strain on the tubular string B and mandrel 13 will be transmittedl through the mandrel shoulder 23 to the Valve housing shoulder 24, and housing 16 and from the latter to the body 10 of the well packer, shifting it upwardly to a position in which the slips and the packing structure 11 will retract from the well casing. The equipment can now be elevated in the well casing, and, if desired, removed completely from the well bore.

The shear device Z5 may have any desired shear strength. As an example, the inner portion 2S of the shear ring may be dimensioned to detach from the outer portion 26 when a total upward pull of 7500 lbs. is taken on the mandrel 13. The shear ring 25 be made stronger, so that an upward pull of 25,000 lbs. on the mandrel is required before the valve will shift to an open position. Thus, the shear ring will secure the valve apparatus in its closed condition and permit substantial upward strains to be taken on the tubular string B to accomplish the desired purpose in the well bore, while preventing communication between the interior of the tubular string B and the annulus 4h surrounding it above the well packer C. Ordinarily, the valve A will only be opened through disruption of the inner portion 28 of the shear ring from its outer portion 26 when the parts of the well packer cannot be returned to their retracted position in the usual manner.

The inventor claims:

1. In apparatus adapted to be disposed in a'well bore on a tubular running-in string: an outer tubular member; an inner tubular member telescopically arranged within said outer member and extending axially therefrom; one of said members having a connection whereby said one member can be secured to a tubular running-in string; means for securing the other of said members in the well bore against longitudinalmovement therewithin; one of said members having a side port through which iluid caniiow between the interior and exterior of said engaged.

'members Whensaid members occupy one telescoped position with respect to each other; one of said members having a valve seat and the other of said members having a valve head engaging said seat when said members occupy anoher telescoped position with respect to each other to prevent such flow of liuid; coengageable means on said members for transmitting longitudinal force between said members in one direction with said head engaging said seat to maintain said other of said members secured in the well bore; and shear means releasably securing said members together with said valve head engaging said seat and releasable in response to a predetermined longitudinal force imposed on said members in the'opposite direction by the tubular` running-in string to permit disengagement between said valve head and seat; said shear means being free from the longitudinal force transmitted in said one direction when said coengageable means are engaged. v

2. In apparatus adapted to be disposed in a Well bore on a tubular runningin string: an outer tubular member; an inner tubular member telescopically arranged within said outer member and extending axially therefrom; one of said members having a connection whereby said one member can be secured to ythe tubular running-'in string; means for securing the other of said members in the well bore against longitudinal movement'therewithin; one of said members having a side port through which Huid can flow between the interior and exteriorof said members when said members occupy one telescoped position with respect to each other; one of said members having a valve seat and the other of said members having a valve head engaging said seat when said members occupyy another telescoped position with respect to each other to prevent such iiow of fluid; coengageable means on said members for transmitting longitudinal force between said members in one direction with said head engaging said seat without transmitting such force through said head and seat to maintain said other of said members secured in the well bore; and shear means releasably securing said members together with said valve head engaging said seat and -releasable in response to a predetermined longil tudinal force imposed on said members in the opposite direction by the tubular running-in' string to permit disengagement between said valve head and seat.

3. In apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore on a tubular running-in string: an outer tubular member having a side port and a valve seat below saidk port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member and extending axially therefrom, said inner member having a head engageable with said seat when said inner member occupies a lower position within said outer member to prevent flow of fluid through said portrbetween the interior of said inner member andthe exterior of said outer member; one of said members having a connection ywhereby said one memberl can be secured to the running-in string; means for securing theother of said members in the well bore against longitudinal movement therewithin; coengageable means on said members for transmitting a downward force between said members when said valve head engages said seat to maintain said other of said memberssecured in the well bore and shear means acting between said members to releasably secure said head in engagement with said seat, said shear means being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined upward force between said member imposed by the tubular running-in string to permit disengagement between said valve head and seat; said shear vmeans being freefrom the downward force when said coengageable means are 4. In apparatus' adapted to be `disposed in 'a well' bore on a tubular running-in string: an outer tubular` member t having a side port and ava-lvefseat below'said port; an inner tubular member telescopedvvwithin said outer mein- 'member occupies a lower position within said vouter mem- Vinterior of said inner member and the exterior of said vouter member; one of said members having a connection whereby said one member can be secured to the tubular running-in string; means for securing the other of said members in the well bore against longitudinal movement therewithin; coengageable means on said members for transmitting a downward force between said members when said valve head engages said seat without transmitting such force through said head and seat to maintain said other of said members secured in the well bore; and shear means acting between said members to releasably secure said head in engagement with said seat, said shear means being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined upward force between said members imposed thereon by the tubular running-in stringto permit disengagement between said valve head and seat.

5. in apparatus adapted to be disposed in awell bore on a tubular running-in string: an outer tubular member having a side port and a valve seat below said port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member and extending axially therefrom, said inner member having a head engageable with said seat when said inner member occupies a lower position within said outer mem ber to prevent iiow of uid through said port between the interior of said inner member and the exterior of said f members in the well bore against longitudinal movement therewithin; coengageable means on said members for Vtransmitting a downward force between said members when said valve head engages said seat without transmitting such force through said head and seat to maintain t said other of said members secured in the well bore; shear meansA acting between said members to releasably secure saidy head in engagement with said seat, said shear means being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined upward force between said members imposed thereon by the Atubular running-in string to permit disengagement between said valve head and seat; and coengageable stop means for limiting upward movement of said inner memsaid . member having ka head engageable with said seat when said inner member occupies a lower position within said outer member to prevent ow of uid through said port Y between the interior of said inner member and the exterior r of :said outer member; said inner tubular member having a connection whereby saidinner tubular member can be secured to the tubular running-in string; means for securing said outer member in the well bore against downward i movement therewithin; coengageable means on said mem- ,bersfor transmitting a downward force between said t members when said valve head engages said seat to maintain said .outer lmember secured in the well bore; shear Y means acting between said members toV releasably secure said head in engagement with said seat, said shear means being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined rupward force from the tubular running-in stringthrough the inner member and shear means to the outer member j to permit disengagement between said valvehead'and seat; y and a slidable spline connection between said members -for'transmitting torque from the running-in stringy and inner" tubular member to said outertubular member when said'iheadhengages said seat and when said head is disengagedfro'm said seat.

ber and extending axially therefrom, said inner v.member 1 having a head engageable with'svaidseat whenk said inner.'

7. *In apparatus adapted torbe disposed -iira well bore Yon atubulai-rrunning-in string: an outer tubular memberk having a side port and a valve seat below said port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member and extending axially therefrom, said inner member having a head engageable with said seat when said inner member occupies a lower position within said outer member to prevent flow of fluid through said port between the interior of said inner member and the exterior of said outer member; said inner tubular member having a oonnection whereby said inner tubular member can be secured to the tubular running-in string; means for securing said outer member in the well bore against downward movement therewithin; coengageable means on said members for transmitting a downward force between said members when said Valve head engages said seat to maintain said outer member secured in the well bore; shear means acting between said members to releasably secure said head in engagement with said seat, said shear means being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined upward force from the tubular running-in string through the inner member and shear means to the outer member to permit disengagement between said valve head and seat; coengageable stop means for limiting upward movement of said inner member within said outer member following disruption of said shear means; and a slidable spline connection between said members for transmitting torque from the running-in string and inner tubular memberto said outer tubular member when'said head engages said seat and when said head is disengaged from said seat.

8. In apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore on a tubular running-in string: an outer tubular member having a side port and a valve seat below said port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member and extending axially therefrom, said inner member having a head engageable with said seat when said inner member occupies a lower position within said outer member to prevent ilow of iluid through said port between the interior of said inner member and the exterior of said outer member; one of said members having a connection whereby said one member can be secured to the tubular running-in string; means for securing the other of said members in the well bore against longitudinal movement therewithin; coengageable means on said members for transmitting downward force between said members when said valve head engages said seat to maintain said other of said members secured in the well bore; and a shear ring engaging said members to releasably secure said members against relative longitudinal movement with said head engaging said seat, said ring being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined upwardly directed force between said members imposed thereon by the tubular running-in string; said shear ring being free from the downward force when said coengageable means are engaged.

9. In apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore on a tubular running-in string: an outer tubular member having a side port and a valve seat below said port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member and extending axially therefrom, said inner member having a head engageable with said seat when said inner member occupies a lower position within said outer member to prevent flow of iluid through said port between the interior of said inner member and the exterior of said outer member; one of said members having a connection whereby said one member can be secured to the tubular running-in string; means for securing the other of said members in the well bore against longitudinal movement therewithin; coengageable means on said members for transmitting a downward force between said members when said valve head engages said seat without transmitting such force through Vsaid head and seat to maintain said other of said members secured in the well bore; and aY shear ring engaging said members to releas-k Ymovement with said head engaging said seat, said ring being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined upwardly directedforce between said members impose thereon by the tubular running-in string.

l0. ln apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore on a tubular running-in string: an outer tubular member having a side port and a valve seat below said port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member and extending axially therefrom7 said inner member having a head engageable with said seat when said inner member occupies a lower position within said outer member to prevent ow of fluid through said port between the interior of said inner member and the exterior of said outer member; said inner tubular member having a connection whereby said inner tubular member can be secured to the running-in string; means for securing said outer member in the well bore against downward movement therewithin; coengageable means on said members for transmitting a downward force from the running-in string, through the inner member and shear ring to the outer member when said valve head engages said seat to maintain said outer member secured in the well bore; a shear ring engaging said members to releasably secure said members against relative longitudinal movement with said head engaging said seat, said ring being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined upwardly directed force between said members; coengaging stop means for limiting upward movement of said inner member within said outer member following disruption of said shear ring; and a slidable spline connection between said members for transmitting torque from the running-in string and inner tubular member to said outer tubular member when said head engages said seat and when said head is disengaged from said seat.

ll. 1n apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore on a tubular running-iu string: an outer tubular member; an inner tubular member telescopically arranged within said outer member and extending axially therefrom; one of said members having a connection whereby said one member can be secured to the tubular running-in string; means for securing the other of said members in the well bore against longitudinal movement therewithin; one of said members having a side port through which iluid can ilo-w between the interior and exteriorV of said members when said members occupy one telescoped position with when said members occupy one telescoped position with respect to each other; one of said members having a valve seat and the other of said members having a valve head'engaging said seat when said members occupy another telescoped position with respect to each other to prevent such ow of tluid; means on said one of said members between said port and valve seatengageable with means on said other member `for transmitting longitudinal force vbetween said members in one direction with said bead engaging said seat without transmitting such force through said head and seat to maintain said other of said members secured in the well bore; and shear means releasably securing said members together with said valve head engaging said seat and releasable in response to a predetermined longitudinal force imposed on said members in the opposite direction by the tubular running-in string to permit disengagement between said valve head and seat.

12. In apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore on a tubular running-in string: an outer tubular member having a side port and a valve seat below said port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member Y and extending axially therefrom, said inner member having a head engageable with said seat when said inner member occupies a lower position within said outer member to prevent how of iluid through said port between the interior of said inner member and the exterior of said outer member; said inner member having a connection whereby said inner member can besecured to the tubular running-instring;y means for securing said outer member 9 n the well bore against downward movement therewithin; an upwardly facing shoulder on said outer member between said port and seat; a downwardly facing shoulder on said inner member engaging said upwardly -facing shoulder when said head engages said seat to transmit a downward force between said members without transmitting such force through said head and seat to maintain said outer member secured in the well bore; and shear means acting between said members to re- `leasably secure said head in engagement with said seat, said shear means being disrupted upon transmission of a predetermined upward force between said members imposed thereon by the tubular running-in string to permit disengagement between said valve heat and seat.

References Ctedin the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,687,317 Archer Oct. 9, 1928 2,273,772 Pollitz Feb. 17, 1942 2,330,267 Burt et a1 Sept. 28, 1943 2,531,943 Lee Nov. 28, 1950 2,593,520 Baker et al Apr. 22, 1952 2,631,000 Lee Mar. 10, 1953 2,663,307 Birdwell Dee. 22, 1953 

